Our Teachers

Peter Acosta

Peter Acosta: Jeweler, Wire Work

Peter Acosta embodies the joy of creating and giving. The ultimate goal of his art is to light up the user, he matches the piece with the personality through elegance, artistry, love, passion and precision. His art is an extension of the positive creative energy that embodies him. Upon meeting Peter, it is very clear that art is a way of life and not a single item to be admired. For more than a quarter of a century, Peter has successfully transferred the feelings of joy, love, amazement, excitement, beauty, and unity through various award winning mediums. Peter joined the artisans of San Diego’s world famous Balboa Park- Spanish Village Art Center through his interpretation of the Viking knit chain. His handmade silver work has expanded to bracelets, necklaces and earrings designed through weaving, knitting, chainmail and carefully selected gemstones. Peter initiated and led the first Arts and Crafts class at the Hillcrest Youth Center, teaches a weekly course for Sharp and is an active member of their patient advocacy program. He has been involved with teaching courses to the benefit of various communities and has received numerous recognitions for his contributions. He is active in fundraising for several causes and frequently is seen donating his art and time to benefit under represented communities. Peter is a community member that values doing what is right above everything else and believes in representing all

Nancy Barbour

Nancy Barbour

Nancy received her MFA from the University of Florida, in Gainesville Fl. She earned her BA at Humboldt State University, in Arcata Ca. She Coordinated the Ceramics programs at the Mendocino Art Center, and Colorado Mountain College, in Aspen Co. She lived in Northern China for three years where she taught art classes at the International School of Tianjin, studied Chinese painting, and enjoyed a ceramic residency at The Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen. She has been an artist in residence at The Mendocino Art Center, and the Carbondale Clay Center. Nancy is a member of the San Diego Potters Guild and creates her work at their studio in Spanish Village, in Balboa Park. She is excited to be living in the city where she grew up.

Jana Bednarkova Kenney

Jana Bednarkova Kenney

Jana Bednarkova Kenney is an independent French artist and art teacher from the Czech Republic. After earning her M.A. Degree in Ceramics at the University of Applied Arts, Prague, she immigrated to France, and established the Artaim Studio and a Non profit organization in central Paris. She has been teaching since 1990 and her ceramics have been exhibited in many countries including Japan and Korea. After her successful 17year career in Paris and 2 years of work in Hawaii in JBK Studio in Kailua, she moved to San Diego, California to pursue her artistic vision.

In 2015, Jana founded and organized an International Ceramics Exchange program followed by the exhibition of French ceramic artists at Spanish Village Arts Center, as a part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration of the Panama-California exhibition. She teaches private classes at Get Centered Clay studio and is a Co-Founder and teacher at Kids Like Clay after school enrichment program.

jbkartstudio@gmail.com

www.kidslikeclay.com

Vicky DeLong

Vicky DeLong ~ Ceramic Art

Ms. DeLong is a working artist, a small business owner and the leaseholder of Studio 16B at Spanish Village Art Center (SVAC) for the past 14 years. She is a former Treasurer of SVAC 1998-2003, former Treasurer for Southwestern Artists Association Studio 23 and former Treasurer for San Diego Museum of Art Artist’s Guild, San Diego 2003 - 2012. Ms. DeLong is the Art Coordinator for Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation and Chair for SVAC/Gallery 21 - Small Image Show. She is also a teacher with SVAC Summer Kid’s and Adult Camps.

Shelly Doty

Shelley Doty

an award winning polymer clay/mixed media artist was introduced to polymer clay in 2011. Since first being introduced to polymer clay and mixed media she has attended classes and workshops taught by some of the best polymer clay artists in the country. Shelley frequently travels and has had the pleasure of spending time visiting art museums in Washington D.C., New York, England, France, and Germany. Her last art related adventure was to visit Monet’s garden in Giverny, France. Shelley’s love of art and travel has allowed her to create a unique style. Many of her pieces could be described as whimsical. She has been a member of Spanish Village Art Center since 2012. She has been a studio artist, patio artist and teacher during this time. http://www.untidyhedgehog.com

Anna Garcia

Deb Gargula

Deb Gargula

Deb cannot remember a time that she did not draw and paint. Her passion for color, texture, and drawing leads Deb to prefer the mediums of colored pencil, watercolor and mixed media. She has fun incorporating gold leaf, acrylic inks, and water soluble pastels with colored pencils to create her artwork. Her images function as structure to hang color on. There is a transparent nature to the materials she uses. Richness of color is achieved by placing multiple layers of pencil ont the page. This allows Deb to form unique ways of expressing each subject.Every piece is an adventure, a chance to further explore the world with new eyes. Her images tend to be tranquil and atmospheric, not a photographic reproduction of the subject. Her goal is to translate what she sees into texture, movement, mood and beauty. Deb likes to vary the surface on which she creates each piece. Sometimes it is paper and sometimes Dura-Lar, a semi-transparent mylar, that allows her to work both sides of the piece for greater depth of values and texture. More recently she is working on travertine and wood, and three dimensionally. All of her work is created using archival Deb has trained formally since high school culminating in a BFA from Northern Illinois University. She continues to take classes and workshops. You can visit her in studio 34A at Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park, San Diego. She is currently a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, District Chapter 202 San Diego. She exhibits her work at venues southern California as well as venues She also collaborates with fellow colored pencil artist Susan Salazar, CPSA, in teaching workshops in colored pencil. You can contact her at CApencilpainter@gmail.com. You can view some of he works at

www.gargulalifesongimages.com and http://www.cpsa202.org.

Alane Gray

Alane Gray

is known for her friendly and helpful attitude toward others, greeting everyone with a smile. My art venture began at age two (photo documentation) when I began drawing on walls, furniture,floors and paper, little did my mom realize an artist was born. My obsession with glass began in 2005 when I took a stained glass class and later glass fusion, sometimes referred to as fused glass, warm glass, or kiln work; this craft involves molding and manipulating glass inside a kiln with temperatures up to 1650 degrees Fahrenheit. Working with glass is never ending there is always a new technique and design to be discovered. I have been involved in numerous classes and workshops to learn the forms of kiln formed glass (glass fusion) mosaics, lampworking and glassblowing. Presently I am a member of Spanish Village Art Center located in Balboa Park, The Art Glass Guild Studio 25/Gallery located in our Art Center and an affiliated artist with the Art Glass Association of Southern California. Alane now holds private and open workshops for those who are willing to learn this exciting art and gain insight into the world of sand and lime. Enjoy the journey.

Gina Grossini

I am a southern California local. I graduated from SDSU with a BA in Studio Art with an emphasis in printmaking. I continued on to get my teaching credential and am now in my 16th year of teaching Photography, Graphic Art, and Screen Printing at a localhigh school in San Diego. I currently am amcraft vendor at the Hillcrest Farmers Market, where I sell my art, clothing, and prints. I am most comfortable behind a press printing multi-­‐coloredartwork on paper or clothing. I fell in love with the process of printing: It’s slow with just enough precision to keep me engaged in the moment. The process also allows an artist to make a series of prints in a variety of color schemes on either paper or clothing. I have a deep passion for this medium and I look forward to sharing
/
teaching the process.

Gina Grossini

Printmaking.Screen Printing

I am a southern California local. I graduated from SDSU with a BA in Studio Art with an emphasis in printmaking. I continued on to get my teaching credential and am now in my 16th year of teaching Photography, Graphic Art, and Screen Printing at a localhigh school in San Diego. I currently am amcraft vendor at the Hillcrest Farmers Market, where I sell my art, clothing, and prints. I am most comfortable behind a press printing multi-­‐coloredartwork on paper or clothing. I fell in love with the process of printing: It’s slow with just enough precision to keep me engaged in the moment. The process also allows an artist to make a series of prints in a variety of color schemes on either paper or clothing. I have a deep passion for this medium and I look forward to sharing
/
teaching the process.

Ellie Hitchcock

Ellie Hitchcock - President

Ms. Hitchcock is a working artist and leaseholder of Studio #30; and has been a member of Spanish Village Art Center for 19 years. Ms Hitchcock is a two-term past president of Spanish Village Art Center, has been a member of the Spanish Village Jurying Committee for about 15 years, and currently directs and teaches in the summer Afternoon Children’s Art Camp in Spanish Village. A long time advocate of arts education, Ms Hitchcock founded the Children’s Integrated Art Experience, which partnered with San Diego Unified School District to bring 28,000 5th graders and 420 teachers to Spanish Village for hands-on art experiences over a two year period, served on the Advisory Board for the San Diego High School, School of the Arts and organized, supervised, and taught in an After School Art Enrichment Program in the Solana Beach School District. In Balboa Park, Ms Hitchcock has been a member of the Balboa Park Educator Council for 17 years, was a charter member of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership and served on the Zoo Expansion working group for two years.

Madeline Nicholls

Madeline has her paintings in Private Collections throughout the USA, Europe and China.

Lois Madeline Nicholls – Mixed Media. Artist /Painter

A SOUTHERN CALIF IMPRESSIONIST and ABSTRACT PAINTER

Madeline has her paintings in Private Collections throughout the USA, Europe and China.

Madeline up-rooted the weed and swished it in the curb-side water, heading to the sidewalk where she proceeded to “paint“ on the concrete. Voila, Madeline became the Artist
/
Painter

Madeline the Artist enjoys a natural creativity and passion for painting.

She discovered painting at the age of 2 ½ while soaking her bare feet along a curb where water was running off freshly, mowed lawns. She was attracted by a tall, willowy weed in her own lawn.

Madeline up-rooted the weed and swished it in the curb-side water, heading to the sidewalk where she proceeded to “paint“ on the concrete. Voila, Madeline became the Artist
/
Painter

Since that time, Madeline graduated from Los Angeles State College with a degree In Education, and she became a California credentialed, Teacher. She continued to study Art media and techniques. Her natural creativity and desire to learn and teach others have led to an art-filled life. She has taught and volunteered as an art teacher in every community she has lived in.

Madeline juried into SVAC in 2006 and has been a Gallery Artist and a Patio Artist. She has also taught privately and in the yearly, Afternoon Summer Camps of SVAC.

If you fall between the ages of 6 and 106 and have a desire to paint, you will enjoy your lessons with Madeline

Melissa Santich

is a local award-winning artist. She is self taught and was bornand raised in San Diego. She’s a relatively new artist, deciding to become serious at painting in 2014. She considers herself an "alternative media artist", using new and exciting materials and mediums in her paintings. She loves painting with lots of wild color and light. Although she specializes in wildlife art, she considers herself an eclectic artist and will “try anything once”. She paints in oil, acrylic, watercolor, alcohol ink, silk and anything else that inspires her. She taught acrylic painting and drawing workshops for the Grumbacher Company at Michael’s stores in San Diego for two years. She is currently the 2016
/
$17 President of Foothills Art Association, and a member of the following associations: San Diego Watercolor Society, East County Art Association, Southwestern Artists Association and Spanish Village. She is currently in Gallery 9 at Spanish Village in Balboa Park and teaches around the county.

Melissa

Mixed Media Artist

is a local award-winning artist. She is self taught and was bornand raised in San Diego. She’s a relatively new artist, deciding to become serious at painting in 2014. She considers herself an "alternative media artist", using new and exciting materials and mediums in her paintings. She loves painting with lots of wild color and light. Although she specializes in wildlife art, she considers herself an eclectic artist and will “try anything once”. She paints in oil, acrylic, watercolor, alcohol ink, silk and anything else that inspires her. She taught acrylic painting and drawing workshops for the Grumbacher Company at Michael’s stores in San Diego for two years. She is currently the 2016
/
$17 President of Foothills Art Association, and a member of the following associations: San Diego Watercolor Society, East County Art Association, Southwestern Artists Association and Spanish Village. She is currently in Gallery 9 at Spanish Village in Balboa Park and teaches around the county.

Kathi Vargo

As a self-taught mixed-media artist Kathi Vargo works mainly with collage and assemblage. She enjoys putting the puzzle together whether it is with paper or something to up-recycle. Taking classes to add new skills is something Kathi enjoys doing when she isn’t creating. After teaching her first class Kathi fell in love with teaching, it is so much fun! She enjoys helping everyone discover their inner artist. Her classes are always fun with a lot of energy and laughter. As a full-time artist Kathi has been a juried member of Spanish Village Art Center since 2006 her work can be seen in Studio 8 at Spanish Village Art Center.

Kathi Vargo

Mixed Media Artist

As a self-taught mixed-media artist Kathi Vargo works mainly with collage and assemblage. She enjoys putting the puzzle together whether it is with paper or something to up-recycle. Taking classes to add new skills is something Kathi enjoys doing when she isn’t creating. After teaching her first class Kathi fell in love with teaching, it is so much fun! She enjoys helping everyone discover their inner artist. Her classes are always fun with a lot of energy and laughter. As a full-time artist Kathi has been a juried member of Spanish Village Art Center since 2006 her work can be seen in Studio 8 at Spanish Village Art Center.

kathivargodesigns@gmail.com

www.kathivargodesigns.com

Lucy Wang

Lucy Wang, an international renowned artist, graduated from the National Taiwan College of Arts in Taipei, Taiwan. She has blended her Chinese painting background and the influence of western painting techniques to develop an innovative style of three-dimensional watercolor on silk, which was featured by "Lynette Jennings, Design" on the Discovery Channel, and "Our Place" on Home and Garden TV. Her monthly educational television program, "The Magic of Chinese Brush Painting", broadcasted on several local cable television stations. Furthermore, she is the author of five Chinese Brush Painting books published and distributed worldwide by Walter Foster Publishing, Inc. She has taught Chinese brush painting for over 30 years at her studio
/
gallery, Spanish Village Art Center, Balboa Park and University of California, San Diego Craft Center (1996-2012).

Lucy Wang

Chinese Brush Painting

Lucy Wang, an international renowned artist, graduated from the National Taiwan College of Arts in Taipei, Taiwan. She has blended her Chinese painting background and the influence of western painting techniques to develop an innovative style of three-dimensional watercolor on silk, which was featured by "Lynette Jennings, Design" on the Discovery Channel, and "Our Place" on Home and Garden TV. Her monthly educational television program, "The Magic of Chinese Brush Painting", broadcasted on several local cable television stations. Furthermore, she is the author of five Chinese Brush Painting books published and distributed worldwide by Walter Foster Publishing, Inc. She has taught Chinese brush painting for over 30 years at her studio
/
gallery, Spanish Village Art Center, Balboa Park and University of California, San Diego Craft Center (1996-2012).